Beowulf & GrendelMovie Reviews

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Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 75
    New York Daily News | Elizabeth Weitzman

    Credit Icelandic director Sturla Gunnarsson for having an ambitious vision: He took a look at the eighth-century epic poem "Beowulf" and decided he could cut it down to size. And he has, for better and worse. Read full review

  • 75
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    A muscular, ardently naturalistic retelling of the ninth-century Anglo-Saxon saga. Read full review

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter | Frank Scheck

    Gunnarsson's film ultimately lacks the grandeur and wit necessary to make the legend fully come alive. Still, the film does offer certain kicks to those who like their action films infused with fantastical elements and benefits greatly from its highly effective lead performances. Read full review

  • 70
    Village Voice |

    It's good, bloody fun that stirs the intellect whenever it feels like it, and as a swashbuckler, the dead-game Butler outswings just about anyone in Troy or Kingdom of Heaven or Tristan & Isolde. Read full review

  • 58
    The Onion A.V. Club | Nathan Rabin

    Removing many of the mythical elements of the tale is an intriguing idea that would undoubtedly have paid richer dividends if it didn't mean relying on a heavy who looks like a cross between a Neanderthal on steroids and stilts, and an unusually hirsute wrestler. Read full review

  • 50
    Boston Globe | Ty Burr

    The film is very near a comedy, and I'm not sure that's on purpose. Read full review

  • 50
    L.A. Weekly | Chuck Wilson

    Filmed in Iceland, Beowulf & Grendel is beautiful, grungy and a little too tasteful for its own good. You can practically feel the filmmakers yearning to have Beowulf and Grendel go all Rambo on each other. Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times | Manohla Dargis

    With all the mystery and meaning sucked from the story, the filmmakers do what filmmakers often do when faced with their own lack of imagination: they toss a little sex in with the violence. Read full review

  • 50
    Variety | Todd McCarthy

    Director Sturla Gunnarsson seems aware of the savagery intrinsic to the story, but is unable to mine it deeply, proving too genteel in the end to make a genuinely creepy or disturbing film. Read full review

  • 25
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    Imagine the worst "Deadwood" episode ever, and you'll get an idea of the general tone of Beowulf & Grendel, which is full of anachronistic cursing, tortured syntax, dark humor and lots of hairy, homely, filthy-looking people. Read full review

Beowulf & Grendel Movie Ratings + Reviews

Fans say

Go 19 fan reviews

Critics say

So-so See all critic reviews

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